Lock rod operating device



June 7, 1938.

F. H. H, FOSS LocK Ron OPERATING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1935 s sheets-sheet g June 7, 193s. F, H H. 'Foss' 2,120,202

' y LOCK ROD OPERATING DEVICE I Filed May 11, 1935v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7,1938. F H H FOSS 2,120,202

LOCK RODy OPERATING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1935v Z. Sheets-Sheet 5 J9 @www/W65.-

Patented June 7, 1.938 l PATENT OFFICE Loox non .OPERATING nevica Ferdinand H. H.

Foss, Chicago," Ill.

Application May 11, 1935, Serial No. 21,067

12 claims.

I'his invention relates to improvements in lock rod operating devices for use on machines for handling charging boxes in the charging of materials into melting furnaces.

The boxes lled with materials are engaged one at a time by the charging machine, locked in position, then lifted and `advanced into the furnace. Rotation of the box discharges its contents, whereupon it iswithdrawn from the furnace, lowered-onto a car or other support and disengaged from -the charging machine. The locking rod may be manually actuated or operated by electric power-means and is used for the purpose of preventing the box from becoming disengaged from the ram of the charging' machine during the above operations. It is essential that the charging box be securely locked to the ram during said operations and to obtain that result it is necessary that the lock rod be securely held in extreme forward position throughout the period of engagement of the ram head with the charging box. It isalso essential that the lock rod be pulled entirely out of the box andback into the ram so that the ram maybe released for handling the next box.

'I'he object of the invention is to provide an improved lock rod operating device that can be manually or electrically operated and which will embody yielding means for thrusting the lock rod forward into locking position, although positively actuating the rod for releasing the charging box. The yielding means insures against damage to the device and in the event the ram is advanced without the box attached and with the lock rod protruding 'beyond the ram head and forcing the end of the lock rod against the furnace or other solid obstruction, or in the event the opening in the charging box is not properly aligned with the rod, or the opening becomes filled with material or is otherwise clogged..

With these and other objects in viewthe invention may consist of certain novel features 'of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a melting l furnace and charging machine, the latter embodying the improved lock rod operating device of the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the lock rod (Cl. 2MP-2Q) means omitted for clearness;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the devicev shown in Figure 2; y

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4 4 of' Figure 3 and showing the manual operating means;

.Figure 5 is .ahorizontal sectional View taken substantially along line'5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure` 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 3 and shows the signal indicating means; y

Figure 7 is a sectional view illustrating the position of the device for locking acharging box to the ram head; and

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical 'connections and contacts for the signal Referring to the drawings, particularly Figure 1, a charging machine 9 embodying the operating device of the invention is shown in association with a furnace- Ill, which may comprise an electric, open hearth or any other type of furnace for reducing ores or other materials to a molten state. The charging machine is mounted for movement on parallel tracks Il so -that the same maybe positioned in front of a number of furnaces for charging the same successively. A ram I2 having a head |3is supported by the machine at'il for pivotal movement, whereby the ram may elevate or lower the charging box I5 moved into yposition'by the car I6'. The ram is also capable of travel forwardly and rearwardly as the carriage I1 supporting the ram, has movement longitudinally of the charging machine.

When a charging machine and a box containing the materials to be delivered to the furnace I0 are properly positioned in front of said furnace, the headfof the ram is associated with the box and the lock rod i8 extending through the ram is given a forward thrust to securely hold the box to said ram.. 'Ihe charging machine can now be operated to lift the box from its supporting car, locate t e same'within the furnace where it is caused to scharge its contents. whereupon the box is withdrawn and replaced on the car. 'I he lock rod I8 is thenw'ithd'rawn and the operation repeated with the sam'e furnace or with succesvided with a plurality of spaced depending supports 2|, 22 and 23 respectively. The support 22 is bifurcated, forming spaced arms providing bearings 24 and 25 for journalling shafts 26 and 21 respectively. The shaft 26 is journalled at its opposite end by bearing 26 provided by the support 2 I. The opposite end of shaft 21 is journalled by bearing 30 provided by support 23, said shaft `being formed to provide a crank 3| between said bearings.

Figures 5 and 7 show the means for connecting the crank to the operating rod I8 which consists of a ball portion 32 held by a socket clamp 33 havingforme'd integral therewith a yoke providing spaced parallel guides 34. A block 35 is mounted for movement within the spaced guides 34 and connects with the crank 3|. A bolt 36 extends through the end of the yoke integral with clamp 33 and is threaded into said block. The projecting end of the bolt receives the coil spring 31 and which is confined between the end of said yoke and washer 38, being held in position on the bolt by the adjustable nut 39. Rotation of the operating shaft 21 will therefore alternately thrust the lock rod forward into locking position and rearwardly to a released position, the structure above described yieldingly thrusting the lock rod forward and thus guarding against damage in the event forward movement of the rod is impossible.

The frame 20 supports a solenoid 40 having a plunger .4| provided with a bifurcated depending end apertured for receiving the pin 42. Said pin extends beyond the sides of the plunger and rides within'elongated slots 43 provided in the auxiliary support 44 and the wall 45 of support 2|. 'Ihe pin 42 provides a bearing for pivotally supporting the depending pawl 46 which is positioned between the bifurcated ears of the plunger 4| and provided with a weighted portion 41 integral therewith and tending to maintain the pawl in contact with a large ratchet 48 suitably secured to shaft 26, as shown in Figure 5. Said large ratchet is formed integral with ,a small ratchet wheel 50, having its teeth directed opposite to the teeth of ratchet 48. A stop pawl 5| supported for 'pivotal movement by pin 52 extending inwardly from the wall 45 is adapted to engage with the teeth of the small ratchet 50 and is provided with a portion 63 adapted to contact with the end of plunger 4|, the weight of the plunger lifting the stop pawl free of ratchet 50. To stop pawl 5| is pivoted at 54 a secondary holding pawl 56 which is located over and adapted to contact the large ratchet 46. It will, therefore, be seen that when the-plunger is up out of contact with portion 53. the stop pawl 5| is'in engagement with the small ratchet 50 while the holding pawl 56 is in engagement with the large ratchet 48. 'I'he shaft 26 is therefore securely held against inadvertent rotation, other than that imparted to the shaft by actuation of pawl 46 by upward movement of the plunger.

When the solenoid 40 is energized, plunger 4| will be caused to move upward. whereupon pawl 46 will engage teeth of ratchet 48 rotating the shaft 26 while simultaneously allowing stop 5| to drop down in contact with ratchet 50. Actuation of pawl 46 is sufficient to rotate the shaft one-sixth of a revolution. This rotation is limited to one-sixth of a. revolution by the stop pawl 5| engaging the teeth of ratchet 50. However, a gear 51 of large diameter is fixed to the end of shaft 26 and meshes with a small gear 58 fixed to the operating shaft 21 for rotating said shaft solenoid will release the plunger which falls on portion 53, lifting stop pawl 5| and causing the holding pawl 56 to engage the teeth on the large ratchet 48, holding the shafts against rotation due to force applied against-the end of the lock rod.

clearly shown in Figure '1 where the ram head |3 has engagement with portion I9 on the charging box I5 and the lock rod is in forward position. the same extending within opening |8a in the charging box, locking the box to the ram.

When the charging machine has caused the contents of the box to be discharged to the furnace and the box has been replaced on its supporting car |6, the solenoid 40 may -be again energized, actuating plunger 4| and pawl 46 to rotate shaft 26 one-sixth of a revolution.

'Ihe operating shaft 21 is caused to rotate onehalf of a revolution, turning the crank 3| through a 180 degree are, whereupon the lock rod will be withdrawn and the box released.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means connecting the rod |8 with the crank so that it is given a yielding thrust in the forward direction to prevent damage in the event the opening in the charging box is clogged or when the parts are not properly aligned, although the rod |8 is positively actuated to released position.

The shaft 26 journals a sleeve 60, having a bifurcated arm 6| connecting with rod 62, providing manual means for operating said device. As shown in Figure 4 the sleeve 60 provides a lever 63 to which is pivotally secured at 64 a pawl 65. Said pawl has engagement with the teeth of ratchet 48 and rotation of the ratchet and shaft 26 results when the sleeve is oscillated by manual actuation of rod 62. The means for manually actuating the lock rod is independent of the electro-magnetic means and in the event said means fails, operation is assured as the manual mechanism is always available and ready for use.- It will be seen that when the shaft 26 is rotated by the solenoid, pawl 65 ldles over the teeth of ratchet 48 and when the manual means is employed to rotate the shaft, it will be seen that the pawl 46 idles over the teeth of said ratchet. In order to indicate to the operator the respective position of the lock rod, the invention provides signal lights. as shown in Figure 8, a red light 66 to indicate a locked position and a green light 61 to indicate a released position.

The lights are connected in circuit with any suitable source of power and with the contacts 16, 1| and 12. A drum 13 of any suitable insulating material is fixed to the end of shaft 21 and is locked within the signal housing 14 fixed to the depending support 23 of the frame 20. Contact plates 15 and 16 are fixed to the drum in diametrically opposed positions thereon, the said plates also being located so that one will close the circuit between contacts 10 and 1| and the other will close the circuit between contacts 1| and 12. When the rst mentioned contacts are closed by plate 15, as shown in Figure 5, the red signal 66 is lighted indicating that the lock rod is in forward or locked position. In like manner the green signal 61 is lighted when contact plate 16 closes a circuit through the contacts 1| and 12.

The position of the parts as above described is An auxiliary holding device for the operating shaft 21 is provided by the disk 18 xed to the end of shaft 2 which is located within the signal housing. Said disk is notched at diametrically opposite points, Figure 6, said notches receiving a spring-energized detent 8U. The detent engages one of the notches depending on the position of the lock rod and aids in holding the same in place against the action of the weighted clamp 33 tending to turn the operating shaft 2l.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilledv in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with -a charging device having a. ram for handling charging boxes, of a' lock rod extending through the ram for securing the box to one end thereof, and means at the opposite end of the ram for actuating the rod,

said means yieldingly thrusting the rod forward into locking position but positively actuating the rod to a release position.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a lock rod, of an operating shaft,

a crank provided by said shaft, said crank having connection with the rod, electro-magnetic means for rotating the shaft and thus the crank, whereby the lock rod may be located in locked or released position, and signal means associated with said shaft for indicating the position of the rod.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combiing with the rod and associated with the crank,I

a block on the crank adapted to slide within the yoke, resilient means holding the block to the end of the yoke whereby pressure against the end of the lock rod compresses the resilient means, and means for rotating the shaft to locate the rod in locked or released position. 5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a lock rod, of an operating shaft, a crank provided by said shaft, a yoke having universal connection with the rod, means mounting the yoke on the crank and adapted to slide within the yoke, a coil spring holding said means to the end of said yoke whereby pressure against the end of the lock rod compresses the coil spring,

and selective means for rotating the shaft to lov cate the rod in locked or released position.

6. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a lock rod. of an operating shaft, a crank provided by said shaft and connecting with the rod, a second shaft for driving the operating shaft, a ratchet on said second shaft, and selective means independent of each other for rotating the ratchet.

7. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a lock rod, of an operating shaft, a

crank provided by said shaft and connecting with the rod, a second shaft for driving the operating shaft, a ratchet wheel on said second shaft, and a solenoid actuated pawl engaging the ratchet wheel to rotate the same upon energization of the solenoid.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a lock rod, of an operating shaft, a crank provided by said shaft and connecting with the rod, a second shaft for driving the operating shaft, a ratchet wheel on said second shaft, a solenoid actuated pawl engaging the ratchet wheel to rotate the same upon energization of the solenoid, and signal' means for indicating the position of the lock rod.

9. In a lock rod operating device, the combination with a frame providing depending supports, shafts journalled -by said supports and operatively connecting with each other, a ratchet wheel fixed to one shaft, a solenoid actuated pawl for rotating the ratchet wheel, a crank provided by said other shaft having connection with a lock rod, and signal means operated by said second shaft for indicating the position of the lock rod.

10. In a lock rod operating device, the combination with a frame providing depending supports, shafts journalled by said supports and operatively connecting with each other, a ratchet wheel fixed to one shaft, 'a solenoid actuated pawl for rotating the ratchet wheel, a sleeve rotatable on said shaft and carrying a pawl engaging with the ratchet wheel, manual means for oscillating the sleeve to rotate the shaft, and a crank provided by the other shaft having connection with a lock rod, said solenoid and manual means for rotating the shaft to locate the lock rod in locked or released position being independent of each other.

11. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a lock rod for locking a ram to a charging box, of a shaft having connection with said rod, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, a vertically reciprocating plunger having a pawl engaging the ratchet wheel to cause rotation thereoi upon upward movement of the plunger, electromagnetic means producing upward movement of the plunger when energized, said plunger descending by gravity when the electromagnetic meansis de-energized, and a stop pawl operative to limit the rotation of the ratchet wheel by upward movement of said plunger, said plunger when in lowered position rendering the stop pawl inoperative.

12. In a device of the kind described, the cornbination with a lock rod for locking a ram to a charging box, of a shaft having connection with said rod, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, a vertically reciprocating plunger having a pawl engaging the ratchet wheel to cause rotation thereof upon upward movement of the plunger,

electromagnetic means producing upward movement of the plunger when energized, said plunger descending by'gravity when the electromagnetic means is de-energized, a stop pawl operative to limit the rotation of the ratchet wheel by upward movement of said plunger, said plunger when in lowered position rendering the stop pawl inoperative, and an auxiliary pawl engaging the ratchet wheel for preventing reverse rotation thereof.

FERDINAND H. H. FOSS. 

